Monkey temple!

So, yesterday I took a long walk westward through Kathmandu, and climbed up a steep hill to reach Swayambunath Monkey Temple. The monkeys are super-tame, and one of the babies was chewing on my fingers, and playing with my hand. His mother found me an unfit playmate for her son, and made her displeasure quite clear.

You can see all over Kathmandu from atop the hill, but the temple and Stupa up top are far more interesting. Because it's summer, and monsoon season, I still haven't seen the Himalayas - hopefully I'll be able to see them when I'm halfway up a mountain...

Here are some pictures of the monkeys and the temple (but mostly the monkeys):



(Click on the pics to get the full size)

Edit: More pics, and captions

Prayer flags fly at the base of the stairs leading to the temple

The temple seen from below through the trees

Baby monkey

Baby monkey chewing a stick

Baby monkey's mother

Baby monkey's mother is jealous of the attention

More monkeys

And more monkeys...

I like monkeys, can you tell?

The stupa at the top of the hill

The stairway I had just climbed up

Assorted knick-knacks and bric-a-brac

Who's this handsome devil casually desecrating a religious artifact?

The prayer flags fly to the peak of the Stupa

Monks like ice cream too

Baby blue doorway and retro Kodak advert

The view from the top

More flags behind the temple, leading down toward the monkey swimming pool

Seriously, these flags were everywhere

The eyes of the Buddha (all three)

Monks at their afternoon prayer

"bored of this, playing tiddly-winks"

This guy doesn't need to read the chants anymore, it would seem

Older monks, all in 2 rows

The monk child (monkee) eats his ramen outside

The grand entrance to Swayambunath temple